This study evaluated the relationship between the degree of suicidal intent & religious activities in 2 groups. Cases were chosen from deliberate self-poisoning patients presenting to an emergency department & the control group was patients who were referred to the same department for other reasons. The mean for the severity of suicidal intention in the case group was 22 (plus/minus 6.5). There was no statistically significant differences between genders. The mean score for religious practice was the same in the case & control groups. There was a statiscally significant association between the degree of suicidal intent & scores in religious practice. But the mean score for religious practice was greater in controls than cases. (42 refs.)